Michelle Povinelli Recognized by MIT Technology Review's Prestigious TR35 Listing of the World's Top Young Innovators for 2010

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Aug 25, 2010, 01:31 ET

TR35 to be Honored at Technology Review's EmTech@MIT 2010 Conference in September

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The University of Southern California announced today that Michelle Povinelli, a member of the faculty of the Viterbi School of Engineering, has been recognized by MIT Technology Review magazine as one of the world's top innovators under the age of 35 for her research on the optical properties of nano-structured materials.

Selected from more than 300 nominees by a panel of expert judges and the editorial staff of Technology Review, the TR35 is an elite group of accomplished young innovators who exemplify the spirit of innovation. Their work - spanning medicine, computing, communications, nanotechnology, and more - is changing our world.

"Advances in nano-fabrication techniques make it possible to pattern materials on a scale smaller than the wavelength of light," said Povinelli. "I want to harness this capability to make nano-photonic devices for optical communications, solar energy and materials."

In her research, Povinelli uses theory and computational simulations to investigate novel optical behavior and device functionality in such systems as photonic crystals, meta-materials, and micro-resonators. She is also working on the fabrication and experimental characterization of photonic-crystal slab devices. Particular topics of interest include optically-induced forces and nanostructured solar cells.

An assistant professor, Povinelli, holds the WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) Junior Gabilan Chair in the Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical Engineering at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering.

"Each year, Technology Review selects 35 innovators under the age of 35 who we believe are transforming technology. Discovering these amazing young men and women is one of the highlights of the year for us," said Jason Pontin, editor in chief and publisher of Technology Review. "We celebrate their success and look forward to their continued advancement of technology in their respective fields."

Povinelli and the other TR35 winners for 2010 will be featured in the September/October issue of Technology Review and online at www.technologyreview.com/tr35/. In addition, the EmTech@MIT 2010 Conference, to be held September 21–23 at MIT, will honor the winners with a dedicated awards ceremony and in a series of "Meet the TR35" presentations.

"All of us at the Viterbi School are very proud of Michelle Povinelli for this exceptional achievement," said Dean Yannis Yortsos. "She is the third member of our faculty to be selected for a TR35 award in the past two years, and all three of them have been women. That's extraordinary!"

"Professor Povinelli is a shining example of a USC innovator. In her research pursuits, she has continued to push beyond the edges of her field, questioned assumptions, and used her imagination to make leaps that will surely make an impact in years to come," said Krisztina "Z" Holly, USC Vice Provost for Innovation and Executive Director of the USC Stevens Institute for Innovation.

Additional information about past and present TR35 winners and judges is available at www.technologyreview.com/tr35/. For more information about EmTech@MIT 2010 please visit: http://www.technologyreview.com/emtech.

About the USC Viterbi School of Engineering

Consistently ranked among the top 10 engineering schools in the United States, the USC Viterbi School of Engineering is achieving new heights through research and educational leadership in crucial realms of technology and innovation: digital media, information sciences, energy and materials, biomedical engineering and homeland security. The school has been awarded national centers in each of these areas, and also conducts major research activities in urban infrastructure, megacities, robotics and theoretical computer science.

About the USC Stevens Institute for Innovation

The USC Stevens Institute for Innovation (http://stevens.usc.edu) is a university-wide resource in the Office of the Provost at the University of Southern California designed to harness and advance the creative thinking and breakthrough research from USC for societal impact. USC Stevens Institute identifies, nurtures, protects, and transfers to the market the most exciting innovations from USC, and in turn, provides a central connection for industry seeking cutting-edge innovations in which to invest. Furthermore, USC Stevens Institute develops the innovator as well as innovations, through educational programs, community-building events, and showcase opportunities.

About Technology Review, Inc.

Technology Review, Inc., an independent media company owned by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is the authority on the future of technology, identifying emerging technologies and analyzing their impact for leaders. Technology Review's media properties include Technology Review magazine, the oldest technology magazine in the world (founded in 1899); the daily news website TechnologyReview.com; and events such as the annual EmTech@MIT Conference.

SOURCE University of Southern California